Durst Organic Growers, Inc

What Durst Organic Growers, Inc does

Durst Organic Growers, Inc. is a family-owned organic farming operation headquartered in Esparto, Yolo County, California, founded in 1990 by Jim Durst. The company specializes in soil-grown organic produce, with a core portfolio that includes asparagus, cherry tomatoes, heirloom tomatoes, watermelon, mixed melons, winter squash, and snap peas. The farm holds dual organic certification from CCOF and the Real Organic Project, and operates under the "Hungry Hollow" sub-brand for distribution to consumer-facing channels.

The technical foundation centers on soil-first cultivation practices: buried drip irrigation, cover cropping, crop rotation, trichoderma inoculation, vermi-extract applications, and chitin amendments. In 2017 the company introduced 100% recyclable cardboard pint baskets for cherry tomatoes, and in 2023 it expanded its tomato lineup to include heirlooms, Romas, and San Marzanos. The farm also participates in the SLEWS Program for on-farm student habitat restoration and maintains a produce donation relationship with Yolo Food Bank.

Durst's business model is multi-channel: it sells through wholesale distributors, grocery retail, on-farm sales, a CSA program, farmers markets, and processors, while also donating to a regional food bank. With a stated headcount of six employees and no external funding, the company operates as a small, owner-managed organic producer whose revenue mechanics depend on a seasonal produce mix and direct-to-consumer plus wholesale distribution.

Name

Durst Organic Growers, Inc

Legal name

Durst Organic Growers, Inc.

Website

https://durstorganicgrowers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Durst Organic Growers, Inc. is a family-owned, certified organic farm in Esparto, California, producing asparagus, tomatoes, melons, winter squash, and snap peas for wholesale distributors, grocery retailers, CSA members, and direct on-farm sales under the Hungry Hollow brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Organic Fresh Produce

NAICS

Vegetable and Melon Farming (11121), Other Vegetable (except Potato) and Melon Farming (111219)

SIC

Agricultural Production-Crops (100)

akta.pro primary industry

Organic Vegetable & Melon Farming (Open-Field) (AFAGAKAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Organic Produce Wholesale (AFAIACAE), Cucurbit & Melon Farming (Cucumbers, Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe) (AFAGADAF)

Keywords

• Organic farming
• Fresh produce
• Soil-grown vegetables
• Certified organic
• Seasonal produce

Headquarters

HQ city

Esparto

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Durst Organic Growers is a certified organic farm in Esparto, California that grows and sells fresh seasonal produce including asparagus, cherry tomatoes (under the "Hungry Hollow" sub-brand), heirloom tomatoes, snap peas, watermelon, mixed melons, and winter squash. The farm supplies regional and national produce distributors, grocery retailers, CSA subscribers, and on-farm customers using soil-grown, hand-harvested methods with buried drip irrigation and organic soil-health practices.

Product overview

Durst Organic Growers is a certified organic farming operation specializing in fresh market, soil-grown produce. Their product portfolio is organized as a unified farm operation with seasonal produce offerings, including core crops (asparagus, cherry tomatoes, watermelon, winter squash) and seasonal items (snap peas, heirloom tomatoes, mixed melons). Cherry tomatoes are sold under the 'Hungry Hollow' sub-brand, reflecting the unique micro-climate of their region in Yolo County, California. The farm utilizes sustainable practices including buried drip irrigation, cover cropping, and soil health management.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Organic Asparagus Hand-harvested, certified organic asparagus grown with buried drip irrigation; a spring/early summer specialty crop sold through wholesale distributors, grocery retailers, and on-farm customers.
• Organic Cherry Tomatoes (Hungry Hollow sub-brand) Hand-harvested, hand-packed certified organic cherry tomatoes grown in approximately 11 varieties (including Sungolds and Sweet 100s), retailed under the "Hungry Hollow" sub-brand in 100% recyclable cardboard pint baskets.
• Organic Heirloom Tomatoes Certified organic heirloom, Roma, and San Marzano tomatoes reintroduced to the farm's offerings in 2023 after a prior hiatus, sold through wholesale and retail channels.
• Organic Snap Peas Hand-harvested, hand-sorted, certified organic snap peas (primarily Sugar Snap Peas) irrigated with buried drip systems and sold through wholesale and direct channels.
• Organic Watermelon Certified organic red seedless watermelon grown as a bulk summer crop, sold through wholesale distributors and grocery retailers.
• Organic Mixed Melons Certified organic mixed melon varieties grown as a summer crop alongside cherry tomatoes and watermelon, sold through wholesale and retail channels.
• Organic Winter Squash Certified organic fall-harvest winter squash in multiple varieties (butternut, sugar pie pumpkin, spaghetti, honeynut, kabocha, delicata, green acorn, red kuri, carnival) sold through wholesale, grocery, and on-farm channels.

Quantifiable outcome

• One asparagus field is 8 years old and still producing spears
• +2 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SLEWS Program (Student and Landowner Education and Watershed Stewardship)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Partnership with Center for Land Based Learning and Yolo Resource Conservation District providing educational opportunities for local high school students (Esparto High School). Students participate in farm projects including hedgerow installation, learning about irrigation, and gaining hands-on agricultural experience.
• Yolo Food BankcoreOthersDurst Organic Growers partners with Yolo Food Bank to donate produce and support community food security. Jim Durst serves on the board of the Yolo Food Bank. The farm provides fresh organic produce donations and has donated cardboard boxes during the COVID-19 pandemic when food banks needed packaging supplies for home deliveries.
• CCOF (California Certified Organic Farmers)coreOthersOrganic certification partner providing USDA and California organic certification services. The farm is committed to certified organic practices and references CCOF in their certifications and standards compliance.
• Real Organic ProjectcoreOthersAdditional organic standards certification beyond USDA requirements. The Real Organic Project focuses on soil-grown produce and authentic organic farming practices, which aligns with Durst Organic Growers' philosophy of soil-based agriculture.
• UC Small Farms (UCANR)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal farm extension program providing agricultural research, education, and technical assistance. Durst Organic Growers works with local farm advisors including Margaret Lloyd for consultation on soil health, disease management, and crop rotation strategies.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Frog Hollow Farm: Certified organic orchard and farm in Brentwood, CA, specializing in stone fruit and value-added organic products sold through CSA, farmers markets, and retail. Comparable as a premium California organic producer with a farm-direct brand and CSA presence.
• Capay Organic (Capay Farms): Second-generation organic farm in Capay Valley, Yolo County, growing tomatoes, melons, and other seasonal produce for CSA, wholesale, and farmstand channels. Closely comparable in crop mix, regional organic positioning, and CSA/wholesale hybrid model.
• Full Belly Farm: Certified organic, diversified farm in the Capay Valley of Yolo County, CA, growing vegetables, fruits, nuts, and flowers with CSA, farmers market, and wholesale channels. Directly comparable in geography, organic certification, crop diversity, and multi-channel distribution.
• Suzie's Farm: Certified organic farm in San Diego, CA, growing over 100 varieties of vegetables, herbs, and flowers for CSA, farmers markets, and wholesale. Comparable in organic certification, diversified crop mix, and CSA/wholesale multi-channel approach.
• Jacobs Farm / Del Cabo Organic: California-based organic herb and specialty produce grower supplying retail and wholesale channels nationally. Comparable in organic fresh produce category and retail/wholesale distribution, though at significantly larger scale.
• Coke Farm: Certified organic farm in San Juan Bautista, CA, growing a wide range of heirloom vegetables and specialty crops for wholesale distributors and restaurants. Directly comparable in crop diversity, organic certification, and wholesale-led distribution.

Broad incumbents

• Taylor Farms: Major California-based fresh produce company offering organic and conventional salads, vegetables, and prepared foods to retail and foodservice nationwide. Comparable in fresh produce category and California origin, but operates at broad-incumbent scale with national foodservice reach.
• Earthbound Farm: Largest U.S. grower of organic salads, vegetables, and fruits, headquartered in Salinas Valley, CA, supplying national grocery chains. Comparable in California organic produce category and retail relationships, but operates at massive scale with national distribution that Durst does not match.

Others

• Pacific Organic Produce: Organic produce distributor and grower representative based in California, sourcing from organic farms for retail and wholesale customers. Adjacent in the organic value chain as a likely channel or peer for Durst's wholesale relationships.
• Veritable Vegetable: California-based organic produce distributor supplying retailers, restaurants, and foodbanks across the West Coast. Comparable as a channel partner and adjacent player in the California organic supply chain rather than a direct grower.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/durstorganicgrowers
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/durst-organic-growers-inc

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Durst Organic Growers, Inc